Wednesday, April 25, 2018

Last week, I had the pleasure to fly an A380 from Dubai to Brussels for a one off ad-hoc flight. Given the size of the aircraft and the fact that a double decker airliner is a very rare sight at Brussels, the flight got a whole lot of media and public attention. A nice video compilation of the arrival and departure can be found here.

So although my favorite seat is the one up front, I like to share an image taken on an earlier flight, shot from the passenger cabin. Whenever I'm flying as a passenger, I rarely close my window blinds. Isn't the view outside better than any In-Flight Entertainment?

I guess it must be the pilot in me... And yes a camera is pretty much always on my side, ready to capture those fleeting moments in life. Such was the case when I spotted anAirbus A380 flying into the sunset.

Anyway, formed out of Condensation and Trails, Contrails form when hot humid air from jet exhausts mixes with environmental air of low humidity and pressure. Depending on humidity and temperature at altitude, they might not form at all, only last a few seconds or stay several minutes.

Image details:

Fujifilm X-T20 with the XF50mm f2 lens

ISO 1600, f4.0, 1/180s

Lightroom CC for RAW adjustments using Velvia Camera profile

What attracted me the most in the image below is the beautiful colour palette which is pretty much straight out of camera with a few minor Lightroom adjustments. Beside I also like the simplicity of the image.

Wednesday, April 18, 2018

I am the first to admit that there is often a portion of luck involved with photography; especially when doing Street Photography where one has very limited control on what is about the happen!

The other day I was out with my recently purchased XF50mm f2 lens; yes, X-photogrpahers don't get there gear for free! Although a 50mm lens on a cropped sensor camera (75mm full frame equivalent) might be considered a bit long for Street photography, I love to use it as my "across the street" lens where I can't get closer to my subject.

In the image below I was experimenting with slightly longer shutter speeds to show motion on the street. People passing on bikes are perfect subjects for this!

The first image I took, turned out to be the best one. Still not entirely sure why, the nose of the guy passing by looks completely out of proportion and immediately reminded me of Pinocchio; a fictive character featured in a 1940's Disney movie. The heart in the background makes it even more interesting. If somebody can explain, why only the nose seems extended, I would like to hear it in the comments below.

Image details:

Fujifilm X-T2 with the XF50mm f2 lens

ISO 250, f7.1, 1/50s

RAW development in Lightroom CC (latest update)

More of my Colour Street Photography can be found here.Remember: "It is not the photographer takes makes the picture, but the person being photographed". Sebastiao Salgado

Wednesday, April 11, 2018

The Tour of Flanders, known as "De Ronde van Vlaanderen", is an annual road cycling race held every spring in my home country Belgium, which is often nicknamed "Vlaanderens Mooiste (Flanders finest). The yearly race has been held uninterrupted since 1919 and even took place while Germany was occupying Belgium during World War II.

Although I'm not a cycling enthusiast, I do like documenting traditional events like this. As I was just in Belgium for a week, I finally got the opportunity to do so.Held on Sunday April 1st this year, the tour started in Antwerp and finished in Oudenaarde after 229km! The race is known for its short, steep cobbled climbs. The image below was taken on one of the last feared climbs, called the "Paterberg".

Image details:

Fujifilm X-T2 with the XF18-55 lens

ISO 3200, f8, 1/500s, 55mm

SOOOC (Straight Out Of Camera)

As typically there is an overload of different colour during these mass events, I straight away elected to document it in black and white. Unusual for me, I the shot in jpeg, using the Acros Yellow Film simulation, in camera. Elected to go for the square format, to avoid unwanted distractions.

Wednesday, April 4, 2018

As I'm approaching the aircraft for my next flight, I occasionally take a minute to reflect on where Aviation has taken us since the early days at the start of the 20th century. Although I've been flying jet-liners for close to 25 years, I don't take things for granted...

We have come a long way! As an example, the distance covered on the first flight by the brothers Wright at the end of 1903, was less than the total length of the aircraft I fly for a living, the Airbus A380.

While the double deck, Airbus A380 does not need a longer runway compared to other wide-body aircraft (B747, B777, A330, A350...), an extra loading bridge to reach the Upper deck is desirable for optimal passenger handling.

Even though the airport of Nice Cote d'Azur is relatively small, they did a while ago upgrade one of its gates to accept the A380. Another airport that recently has been upgraded is Brussels. Yours truly is planned to operate an ad-hoc A380 flight to Brussels on April 19th. It will be close to 16 years, since I last landed at the Brussels International airport.

The image below was shot at Nice airport in the South of France. I was especially attracted by the great light and the reflection on the side of the boarding gates.

Image details:

Fujifilm X-T2 with the XF23mm f2 lens

ISO 200, 1/950s, f5.6

RAW development in Lightroom CC, including Black and White conversion

More Airliner images can be found in there respective gallery here. Although it was somehow taken out of context, Orville Wright once said; "No aircraft will ever fly from New York to Paris".